There should be no change to police presence in schools

Cedar Rapids residents should immediately demand no changes to the school-based police deployment in the public schools. The common good, and the physical safety of school children, justify the longtime status quo.

First, I would like to commend The Gazette’s courageous editorial stand (Sept. 10) against the school district administration’s anti-democratic decision to remove middle-school peace officers without a School Board vote to approve. It’s true: our district’s leadership has an offensive aversion to transparency. What’s the hurry?

However, I must address one key area where the editorial fell short. There actually has been ample public input on the issue. District surveys of community members and students since May have not delivered results to the administration’s liking.

In sum, there has been overwhelming support in favor of keeping school cops:

• 75 percent support from the community.

• 72 percent support from the students.

• Only 19 total students surveyed last May said they feel “very unwelcome” because of the cops.

Here’s a democratic compromise that should satisfy all lovers of government “of the people, by the people and for the people”: For now, make no changes to the district’s school-based cop policy. This would uphold the people’s demonstrated will. Then, at the next possible local election, school district voters, after weighing the facts surrounding whether to keep well-liked school cops, could vote in an advisory public referendum.

This would a just provide counterpoint to Superintendent Noreen Bush’s deplorable barriers to open government.

Kevin Wymore

Cedar Rapids